Read the following passage and answer the questions given below it.
Dad had a favourite carpet snake that he called Old Tom. Now Old Tom was big and had taken up residence in a large, burnt – out stump near the packing shed. I could climb onto a fallen banana stool and peer into the stump while Dad reached in and fed the snake.
When we unloaded the banana bunches from the jeep, field mice often scurried out, and sometimes Dad would stand close by and endeavour to stun the mice with the back of his cane knife. Triumphantly, he could then take his offering to Old Tom and watch with great satisfaction as the snake swallowed the mouse whole.
After several months, Dad and Old Tom got to know each other quite well. So well, in fact, that he could tentatively stroke Old Tom, who seemed to like it. Dad proudly showed Old Tom to passing banana growers and they marveled at the size of the snake and Dad’s ability to stroke it. Dad, of course, did not miss the opportunity to remark on the number of mice Old Tom ate, which raised appropriate envy in the growers and made Dad’s day.
1. Where had Old Tom taken up residence?
Old Tom had taken up residence in a large, burnt – out stump near the packing shed.
2. What would Dad watch with great satisfaction/
Dad would watch the snake swallow the mouse whole with great satisfaction.
3. What liberty could Dad take after he got to know Old Tom quite well?
After Dad got to know Old Tom quite well, he could stroke Old Tom.
4. a. Dad reached in and fed the snake. (Rewrite the sentence using the present participle form of the verb underlined)
On reaching in, Dad fed the snake.
b. he could then take his offering to Old Tom. (Pick out the preposition)
to – preposition.
5. Use the following phrases in meaningful sentences of your own.
a. make one’s day
My father made my day when he announced that he was taking me on a world trip.
b. To get to know
We got to know about his illness from his uncle.
6. Why are snakes called “the friends of farmers”?
Snakes are called ‘the friends of farmers’ because they feed on rats and mice which would otherwise destroy the crops thus causing shortage and scarcity of food crops.